Who we are
Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited (ACSL) brings together safeguarding functions at a national level for the Church in Australia.
Introduction
ACSL integrates the functions of the former entities Catholic Professional Standards Ltd (CPSL), the Australian Catholic Centre for Professional Standards (ACCPS) as well as oversight of the Australian Catholic Ministry Register (ACMR).
Learn about the transition to ACSL.
ACSL continues the important work of responding to the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
We acknowledge the lifelong trauma of abuse victims and survivors and their families; the failure of the Catholic Church to protect, believe and respond justly to children and adults at risk; and the consequent breaches of community trust.
Statement of Purpose
Our role is to actively work with Catholic entities to promote and oversee a nationally consistent, comprehensive and sustainable framework for the protection of children and adults at risk within the Church in Australia.
We provide a single point of reference for entities to access high quality, integrated safeguarding services, informed by Catholic social teaching.
Through our work, we assist Church entities to fulfil their responsibilities to provide safe environments for children and adults at risk.
We do this by:
- maintaining the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards
- supporting Catholic entities to implement the Standards and other national protocols
- implementing a framework for review/audit of the safeguarding practices of Catholic entities and reporting the findings of those audits/reviews
- overseeing the management of complaints against Church authorities and implementing and managing review of the National Response Protocol and other protocols
- administering the Australian Catholic Ministry Register (ACMR)
- supporting Church entities to comply with legislative obligations in relation to safeguarding and professional standards
Values
Our values define us.
We are committed to acting with courage, compassion and honesty. These values guide the ways we develop and manage our organisation and inform cultural change within the Catholic Church to protect children and adults at risk.
- Courage – We stand firm, act responsively and persevere
- Compassion – We honour the dignity of all and work with understanding, respect and care
- Honesty – We embrace openness and transparency, and act with integrity, probity, fairness and consistency
We work to embed our values in everything we do.
Safeguarding Commitment Statement
The safety of children and adults at risk is paramount.
We are committed to the safety of children, and adults at risk.
Their protection and safety is our priority. We actively seek to listen to, empower and protect children, and adults at risk.
We have a zero tolerance of abuse.
Our Code of Conduct applies to board directors, staff, contractors, volunteers and authorised persons engaged by ACSL.